More memorial vandalism

Kyt · Aug 29, 2008

Vandals no respect for those who gave their lives - ChronicleLive

IT STANDS as a memorial to fallen men where the young and old of today can pay their respects.

But vandals’ scrawlings have spoiled Newcastle’s war memorial.

Just weeks after Old Eldon Square opened after a £1m revamp, graffiti was daubed on benches dedicated to those who gave their lives and served in armed forces during the two world wars.

Newcastle City Council workers moved swiftly to clean away the ink scribbles, but veterans are outraged at the vandalism

Tom Robertson from Walkergate, chairman of the Joint Ex-Service Association, said: “This is a grave, an open grave where people can sit and think about what happened.

“It’s only three weeks since the rededication and I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come.

“I’ve had people on the phone saying they feel sick just thinking about the benches being vandalised.

“I don’t even think most of the people who do this understand what this memorial is for. It is total lack of respect.”

The million-pound facelift of Old Eldon Square hoped to create an official war memorial for the city by painstakingly restoring the square and its 85-year-old centrepiece statue to its former glory.

It was rededicated in a ceremony on August 6 and the benches, bearing plaques paid for by donations from veterans’ and former servicemen’s associations, were put in.

New pathways were laid to improve access to the war memorial at the heart of the square, with its statue of St George and the Dragon, and new trees and grassed areas were planted.

In an effort to deter vandalism, metal stoppers were put around the base of the memorial and on the benches around the square, a popular hang-out for teenagers and families alike.”

Mr Robertson, 74, a former Royal Marine, said: “It looked as good as you can get after the refurbishment and a lot of work was done to get it to that state. You can understand why people get annoyed and upset. It has cost a fortune, but money becomes irrelevant.

“There are groups who come here at the weekends and that can be quite off-putting for people. We want people to come and enjoy the square, sit on the benches and look at the plaques. Some of the lads are asking what the point is in putting up a plaque when it will only get vandalised.”

Bob Robinson, 80, of South West Denton, Newcastle, lost 11 relatives, including his 21-year-old brother, in the Second World War. He said: “It appalls me to see people sitting on the memorial, eating food and throwing things around. Soldiers lost their lives to make sure people like them can live how they want.”
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